Introduction: issues, events, and personalities -- Confined to the smallest number of powers: the peace offensive after Stalin -- There is no other foreign policy: the road to Berlin -- The year things began to get unstuck: 1955 -- The key to world dominance: Western unity and the foreign policy initiative, 1956 -- Toward Berlin and the status quo: 1957-1958 -- The strongest weapon is unity: Berlin, 1958-1960.